For many, Gillingham versus Barrow on a December afternoon is “just” another League Two game before the hectic Christmas period of 2025 begins. But for Richard Dobson, the game marks the Gills Assistant boss’ seven hundredth game in the dugout.

At this week’s briefing with KSN, Gareth Ainsworth paid tribute to his right-hand man. “Anyone who does one hundred games in the dugout has done well never mind seven hundred!” the Gills boss said.

“For him to be alongside me for six hundred and thirty, six hundred and forty of those or so – he had a season and a bit whilst I was captain at Wycombe when Dobbo was promoted to assistant to Gary Waddock and that was a tough season in League One and when I got the job, there was no question to me about keeping him as he had given glimpses of what he was and what he would become.”

“And over the years, he has become a fantastic number two, he really has!”

“Being a number two is so different to being a number one – it really is! There should be courses and then Dobbo would run it,” Ainsworth said smiling.

“Not being in the limelight is one, but picking up the pieces is just the start. He will watch me as much as he watches the opposition, and he will watch me on the touchline at times, and he will know what I need.”

“He’s probably the closest thing to me other than my wife. He probably could read me, know what I am thinking and he knows when to push, when to hold back and the one thing that Dobbo has never, ever done ever, is to say, “I told you so” or “we should not have done that!”

“He just gets on with the decision that we make as a group – I will make the final decision and that is my job – but he always believes in things one hundred percent. It doesn’t always go right, believe me, as we have had some really bad games in there, but not once has, he…”

“Trust – a word in football that is used a lot, but whether done a lot, I am not sure, but it’s definitely done with Richard Dobson. I can trust him with everything I have got, and I think together we have forged this culture, this way of doing things and it’s great to see people coming in, joining in and enjoying it.”

“Congratulations Dobbo – seven hundred is a great achievement my friend – and I hope that there is many more to come, especially right here at Gillingham. It’s brilliant for someone like him to do so much good in the dug-out!”